Minor update, but one I’m thrilled to share: you can now download and install SharpKeys from the Microsoft Store!
I’ll still make offer the MSI and EXE’s directly from GitHub, this website, or winget, but by having the app in the Microsoft Store will also mean that updates will get pushed directly to your PC, which I kinda dig.
Still a free app to download and use – you can find it here: Microsoft Store.
Is it possible to setup this only for a specific keyboard?
My laptop one is ok, but I have to do this for my MX Keys Mac, so for now I simply load the proper setup when I switch.
It would be awesome to be able to setup this for a specific keyboard!
Thanks <3
Sorry, no: the technology that remaps the keys is not aware that a specific keyboard is being used.
Hi
Sorry for my bad english, I want an help from you to create a software that with a combination of key change the keys of the keyborad. My idea is that one user when instal the software on it’s pc, the software initialy create a file with a remap random of the key like
A->&
B->d
C->7
.
.
Only (for example) when the user press ctrl+windows+k the keyboard is remapped following the file and when user retype ctrl+windows+k keybord return to normal configuration.
Why this?
Becouse i want remember my easy password like the name of my son, but before of writing it i press ctrl+windows+k so “Letizia10” became something like “rfjH#si4?”
It’s would wonder if a key could be remmapped in one or more key like
A-> 7
B-> fH
C -> ?0I
Per the FAQ, this is not possible.
Hi,
For some reason when installing the app from Microsoft Store it asks for admin credentials. Any other app I have downloaded from there has just went straight into download. Just a heads up I guess, don’t know why that is.
Hi!
any chance to remap Fn and Ctrl with external lenovo keyboard?
Likely not, because the Fn key is a HW key and not usually remappable by Windows. That said, Lenovo used to have a way to swap these keys in the BIOS or UEFI, particularly on ThinkPads.
Hi
Any chance to swap keys at lenovo external keyboard, please?
Windows remaps keys at face value, regardless of how the keyboard is attached.
how to restore as default
Remove all the mappings in SharpKeys (Delete All works well,) Save to the Registry, and reboot.
Hi Randy
I m trying to swap the left alt key to the bracket key that swiss german keyboards have. Apparently the bracket key is E0_56.
(I try to do that on a USA english laptop keyboard layout.)
It misses the specific key. And for coding the bracket key while still using a swiss layout on this english keyboard would be nice.
But I tried to put the key on either the windows key or the left alt key. and it s not working. the windows or alt function is gone after using your software. but it doesnt type the brackets.
I gave your software admin rights on executing and I restarted. But the new keyfunction does nothing when i try to type. no brackets typed.
What am I doing wrong?
Thank you already for your appreciated effort and help.
Kind Regards
Mirco
I cannot speak to what the Swiss German keyboard is doing: different hardware and no idea what how the US layout maps to it. That said, whole keys are moved, so on a US keyboard, we have [ and { on one key which can be remapped to any other key, but [ by itself cannot be remapped. Likewise, SharpKeys needs the admin rights to edit a Registry Key: Windows does the remapping, based off the Registry, which requires the “save to Registry” and then rebooting. If you reboot, re-open SharpKeys, and see the remappings in the window, you then everything SharpKeys is responsible for is working – can’t do much to make sure the correct keys are being selected with the HW and layout changes.
Hello Randy,
I have a 122 key 3270 keyboard (yes, I am an old mainframer) which does not have a Windows key. It does have one unmarked key and I want to remap that key to the Windows key. Using several online keyboard testers, I have found the unmarked key is set to a left ctrl + F7. I have been able to remap that key to the Windows key using Microsoft PowerToys but I don’t like to have to keep PowerToys running to make it work. I find SharpKeys easy to use and I like that the registry gets modified where I don’t have to keep it running. SharpKeys only shows the F7 when I press the key that I want to remap. Is that a constraint of the registry that prevents a key set to multiple scancodes from being modified?
Regards,
Matt Grimes
PowerToys is using an active bit of tech for remapping, so it can do all sorts of things with modifier keys and combinations of keys. SharpKeys is an app that exposes a Registry Key that Windows uses to map keys between each other (with no additional resources needed) but it also only supports whole key remapping. Meaning that it cannot tell the difference between F7, CTRL+F7, or any other combination of keys with it.
PowerToys is the best way to go, if you are using CTRL+F7. If you wanted to use one of the higher end F keys (like F20) then that should work too.
Hey Randy!
As a 25+ year Mac-ite, I’ve used SharpKeys for gosh, 15+ years and have recommended the script endlessly to other Mac turned Windows users. Now, in 2024, I am super sad to say the app no longer works on Windows 10 or Windows 11 for remapping Left Control to Left Alt to mimic the Mac Command key press. I say both OS’ because I just downgraded from Win 11Pro to Win10 Pro and the app still doesn’t recognize the left alt.
To reproduce,
– SharpKeys is launched
– Click Add on left side
– Click ‘Type Key’
– The left control button is pressed, no problem, the app recognizes the key with no problem.
– Click Add on right side
– Click “Type Key”
– Click the left alt
– App does not populate key
– Full Stop.
Note: This key is not recognized at all on the Lenovo’s built-in keyboard and on my KeyChron K3 mechanical keyboard.
Please help me. Getting used to Windows keypresses is a massive deal breaker! Thank you!!!
Is this because
Hi – thanks for the long-term support for the app!
ALT keys are not recognized by “Type Key” – they get intercepted by Windows and do not get passed on to the rest of the app. If you want to remap it, you have to select it from the list of available keys. You’ll find both Left and Right variants under “Special”.
I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to remap my UK keyboard. I would like to replace @ by ä and [ by ü.
Is it possible to do this? I can’t find ä and ü in the list of available keys…
That’s because SharpKeys replaces whole keys – not SHIFT+2 WIN+C. For something like that, you’ll want to use PowerToys or AutoHotKeys.
Hi I just downloaded and installed Sharpkeys to my Windows 10 laptop, because the letter “A” on my keyboard will not work.
I have mapped to “A” to the key just below and to the left, which is the “BACKSLASH” key (special ISO extra key (00_56) on Sharpkeys interface).
I have rebooted the laptop, but the backslash key is still inputting the backslash and not the A..
What is the problem please?
Sounds like they are flipped. You are trying to remap the \ key to represent as the A key.